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Sky Bet Championship: Jacob Butterfield relishing return to Barnsley

Jacob Butterfield is eagerly awaiting Middlesbrough's clash with his former club Barnsley on Saturday.

Last Updated: 16/10/13 6:24pm

Jacob Butterfield: Former Barnsley midfielder

The 23-year-old midfielder is preparing for his first trip to Oakwell since leaving the Tykes for Norwich in 2012.

Butterfield joined Boro this summer after failing to break into the first team at Carrow Road, and opened his account for Tony Mowbray's men in the club's 4-1 win against Yeovil before the international break.

He is now preparing for a return to the team that helped forge his professional career.

"I'm looking forward to seeing some old faces again," he told BBC Tees. "They showed me the right path at the start of my professional career.

"It was the perfect club for me at that time. The whole club, from the fans to the management, gave me the confidence to express myself.

"I enjoyed having the backing of the football club and the crowd because it really helped me play well."

But Butterfield will not be taking things lightly on his old club, who are struggling at the bottom of the Championship table, with Boro also in desperate need of points having won just one of their last nine league games.

"Playing my old team there's extra reason for me to put in a good performance," he added. "But I know the manager and a lot of the Barnsley players - it's going to be a really tough game."